Includes bibliographical references (pages 425-437) and indexes.

note: ch. Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 1 Introduction to Group Work -- Introduction -- Overview of Various Types of Groups -- Task Groups -- Psychoeducational Groups -- Counseling Groups -- Psychotherapy Groups -- Brief Groups -- Multicultural Perspective on Group Work -- Becoming a Diversity-Competent Group Counselor -- Starting Place: Understanding Your Own Culture -- Personal Perspective on Understanding Differences -- Framework for Developing Diversity Competence -- Inviting Conversations About Culture With Group Members -- Points to Remember -- Introduction to Group Work -- Exercises -- Questions for Discussion -- ch. 2 Group Counselor -- Introduction -- Group Counselor as a Person -- Problems and Issues Facing Beginning Group Leaders -- Personal Characteristics of the Effective Group Leader -- Group Counselor as a Professional -- Overview of Group Leadership Skills -- Integrated View of Leadership Skills -- Coleadership Model -- Basis of Coleadership -- Advantages of the Coleadership Model -- Disadvantages of the Coleadership Model -- Developing a Research Orientation to Practice -- How Research Can Enhance Your Group Practice -- Challenge of Combining Research and Practice -- Points to Remember -- Concepts and Guidelines for Group Practitioners -- Exercises -- Attitude Questionnaire on Group Leadership -- Self-Assessment of Group Leadership Skills -- Questions for Discussion -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 3 Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling -- Introduction -- Ethical Issues in Group Membership -- Informed Consent -- Involuntary Membership -- Freedom to Withdraw From a Group -- Psychological Risks for Members -- Confidentiality -- Educating Members About Confidentiality -- Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Confidentiality -- Multicultural Dimensions of Confidentiality -- Confidentiality of Minors in Groups -- Summary Guidelines Regarding Confidentiality -- Role of the Leader's Values in the Group -- Ethical Aspects of Working With Values -- Dealing With Conflicts of Values -- Ethical Imperative of Addressing Diversity in Group Counseling-- Values and Working With Diversity -- Ethics and Standards of Preparation and Practice -- Social Justice Approach to Group Counseling -- Special Issues Pertaining to Sexual Orientation -- Ethical Concerns in Using Group Techniques -- Competence and Training of Group Counselors -- Assessing Competence -- Professional Training Standards for Group Counselors -- Training and Personal Experience -- Ethical Issues in Training Group Counselors -- Benefits of Experiential Group Training -- Guidelines for Ethical and Legal Practice -- Legal Liability and Malpractice -- Legal Safeguards for Group Practitioners -- Points to Remember -- Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling -- Exercises -- In-Class Activities -- Questions for Discussion -- ch. 4 Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling -- Introduction -- Theory as a Roadmap -- Our Theoretical Orientation -- Developing Your Own Theory of Group Practice -- Using Group Techniques Effectively -- Rationale for Use of Techniques -- Viewing a Group Through a Multicultural Lens -- Relationship of Theories to Techniques -- Psychodynamic Approaches -- Psychoanalytic Approach -- Adlerian Approach -- Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Approaches -- Existential Approach -- Person-Centered Approach -- Gestalt Therapy -- Psychodrama -- Cognitive Behavioral Approaches -- Behavior Therapy -- Cognitive Therapy -- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy -- Reality Therapy -- Postmodern Approaches -- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy -- Narrative Therapy -- Feminist Therapy -- Integrative Approach -- Points to Remember -- Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling -- Exercises -- Questions for Discussion -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- pt. 2 Group Process: Stages of Development -- ch. 5 Forming a Group -- Introduction -- Developing a Proposal for a Group -- Working Within the System -- Attracting and Screening Members -- Guidelines for Announcing a Group and Recruiting Group Members-- Screening and Selection Procedures -- Practical Considerations in Forming a Group -- Group Composition -- Group Size -- Frequency and Duration of Meetings -- Length of a Group -- Place for Group Meetings -- Open Versus Closed Groups -- Uses of a Pregroup Meeting -- Research on the Value of Pregroup Preparation -- Orientation and Preparation of Members -- Clarifying Leader and Member Expectations -- Goals of Pregroup Preparation -- Establishing Basic Ground Rules -- Building Evaluation Into Group Work -- Coleader Issues on Forming a Group -- Points to Remember -- Member Functions -- Leader Functions -- Exercises -- Group Planning -- Interviewing -- Group Class -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 6 Initial Stage of a Group -- Introduction -- Group Characteristics at the Initial Stage -- Some Early Concerns -- Initial Hesitation and Cultural Considerations -- Identifying and Exploring Common Fears of Group Members -- Hidden Agendas -- Address Conflict Early -- Self-Focus Versus Focus on Others -- Here-and-Now Focus Versus There-and-Then Focus -- Trust Versus Mistrust -- Creating Trust: Leader and Member Roles -- Importance of Modeling -- Attitudes and Actions Leading to Trust -- Identifying and Clarifying Goals -- General Goals for Group Members -- Helping Members Define Personal Goals -- Group Process Concepts at the Initial Stage -- Group Norms -- Group Cohesion -- Effective Therapeutic Relationships: Research Findings -- Support Versus Confrontation -- Guidelines for Creating Therapeutic Relationships With Members-- Helping Members Get the Most From a Group Experience -- Leader Guidelines for Members -- Avoid Too Much Structuring and Teaching -- Journal Writing as an Adjunct to Group Sessions -- Homework During the Initial Stage -- Leader Issues at the Initial Stage -- Division of Responsibility -- Degree of Structuring -- Opening and Closing Group Sessions -- Points to Remember -- Initial Stage Characteristics -- Member Functions -- Leader Functions -- Exercises -- Facilitation of Initial Stage of a Group -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 7 Transition Stage of a Group -- Introduction -- Characteristics of the Transition Stage -- Establishing Trust -- Defensiveness and Reluctant Behavior -- Critique of the Notion of Resistance -- Common Fears and Anxieties Experienced by Members -- Struggles With Control -- Conflict -- Confrontation -- Challenges to the Group Leader -- Leader's Reactions to Defensive Behaviors -- Problem Behaviors and Difficult Group Members -- Silence and Lack of Participation -- Monopolistic Behavior -- Storytelling -- Questioning -- Giving Advice -- Dependency -- Offering Pseudosupport -- Hostile Behavior -- Acting Superior -- Socializing -- Intellectualizing -- Members Becoming Assistant Leaders -- Dealing With Defensive Behavior Therapeutically -- Dealing With Avoidance by the Whole Group -- Dealing With Transference and Countertransference -- Coleader Issues at the Transition Stage -- Points to Remember -- Transition Stage Characteristics -- Member Functions -- Leader Functions -- Exercises -- Self-Assessment Scale for Group Members -- Scenarios for Exploration -- Questions for Discussion -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch.

Reminding Members About Confidentiality -- Working Stage of a Group -- Introduction -- Progressing to the Working Stage -- Leader Interventions in Working With a Member's Fear -- Interventions at the Initial Stage -- Interventions at the Transition Stage -- Interventions at the Working Stage -- Interventions in the Final Stage -- Tasks of the Working Stage -- Group Norms and Behavior -- Contrasts Between a Working Group and a Nonworking Group -- Deepening Trust During the Working Stage -- Choices to Be Made During the Working Stage -- Homework During the Working Stage -- Therapeutic Factors That Operate in a Group -- Self-Disclosure and the Group Member -- Self-Disclosure and the Group Leader -- Feedback -- Confrontation -- Cohesion and Universality -- Hope -- Willingness to Risk and to Trust -- Caring and Acceptance -- Power -- Catharsis -- Cognitive Component -- Commitment to Change -- Freedom to Experiment -- Humor -- Coleader Issues During the Working Stage -- Topics for Coleader Meetings -- Points to Remember -- Working Stage Characteristics -- Member Tasks and Functions -- Leader Functions -- Exercises -- Assessment of the Working Stage -- Questions for Discussion -- Member's Weekly Evaluation of a Group -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 9 Final Stage of a Group -- Introduction -- Tasks of the Final Stage of a Group: Consolidation of Learning-- Termination of the Group Experience -- Dealing With Feelings of Separation -- Comparing Early and Later Perceptions in the Group -- Dealing With Unfinished Business -- Personal Gestures in Expressing the Meaning of a Group Experience -- Reviewing the Group Experience -- Practice for Behavioral Change -- Carrying Learning Further -- Giving and Receiving Feedback -- Use of a Contract and Homework -- Dealing With Setbacks -- Guidelines for Applying Group Learning to Life -- Reminding Members About Confidentiality --

Contents note continued: In-Class Activities. Coleader Issues as the Group Ends -- Follow-Up -- Postgroup Sessions -- Points to Remember -- Final Stage Characteristics -- Member Functions -- Leader Functions -- Exercises -- Final Stage of a Group -- Questions for Discussion -- Guide to Groups in Action: Evolution and Challenges DVD and Workbook -- ch. 11 Application of Group Process to Schools and Community Agency Settings -- ch. 10 Groups in School Settings -- Introduction -- Group Counseling in the School Setting -- Guidelines for Group Work With Children and Adolescents -- Developing a Sound Proposal -- Legal Considerations -- Practical Considerations -- Strategies in the Group -- Play Therapy in Group Work With Children and Adolescents -- Personal and Professional Qualifications -- Getting Support for School Counseling Groups -- Group Proposal: A School Counseling Group for 6- to II-Year-Olds-- Group Proposal: A Group for Elementary School Children of Divorce and Changing Families -- Group Proposal: A Group for Children Who Have Been Abused -- Developmental Themes of Adolescence -- Sources of Stress During Adolescence -- Developmental Group Counseling With Adolescents -- Issues and Challenges in Leading Adolescent Groups -- Establishing Trust -- KnowYour Comfort Zone With Self-Disclosure -- Group Proposal: Teens Making a Change (T-MAC): A Group for Preventing Teen Delinquency -- Helping Adolescents Deal With Anger and Conflict -- Group Proposal: A High School Anger Management Group -- Groups in College Counseling Centers -- Common Topics in College Groups -- Some Groups for College Students -- Points to Remember -- Groups in School Settings -- Exercises -- In-Class Activities -- ch. 11 Groups in Community Settings -- Introduction -- Group Work With Women -- Group Proposal: A Women's Support Group for Survivors of Incest-- Group Work With Men -- Group Proposal: A Men's Group in a Community Agency -- Group Treatment of Domestic Violence Offenders -- Group Proposal: An Involuntary Domestic Violence Group -- Group Treatment of Sex Offenders -- Group Proposal: A Group for the Treatment of Sex Offenders -- AIDS Crisis as a Challenge for Group Workers -- How Groups Can Help -- Educational Focus in HIV/AIDS Groups -- Group Proposal: An HIV/AIDS Support Group -- Group Work With Older Adults -- Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills of Leaders -- Preparing Yourself to Work With Older Adults -- Practical and Professional Considerations for Group Work With Older Adults -- Guidelines for the Group Process -- Working With Healthy Aging People in Groups -- Group Proposal: A Successful Aging Group -- Therapeutic Value of Grief Work in Groups -- Group Proposal: An Older Adult Bereavement Group -- Group Proposal: A Group Treatment Program for Institutionalized Older Adults -- Therapeutic Value of Touch -- Points to Remember -- Groups in Community Settings -- Exercises -- In-Class Activities.

"This book outlines the basic issues and key concepts of group process and shows how group leaders can apply these concepts in working with a variety of groups. In many ways this is a 'how-to' book, but it is also a book about the 'why' of group leadership. For the ninth edition, each chapter has been carefully reviewed and updated to present the current thinking and trends in practice." --p. xxi